The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-12-04
SHERIDAN AND THE ARMY.
He Wishes to Retire u Number OF Use
less Officers Now on Full Pay.


less Officers Now on Fun Pay.
Washington Special "a the world
The World correspondent found Gen,
Phil sheridan in his library at his home
On Rhode Island avenue today. Gen.
| Sheridan is interested in several recon-
mcndations made IN his report on the
army. Two of his recommendation he is
dcslrous of seeing acted upon by Congress,
but lac feels that while they are necessary
for the good Of the service, all responsible
| ity is removed from him and is laid upon
| Congress
10 the World correspondent Gen. Sheri-
dan said
81 regard rs the most important my
recommendation in reference 10 the retire
mcnt OF many officers who have been worn
out in the service. lwould not ask to have
any man retired who did not wish 20 bc,
and do not Tor moment intend 10 push
amy man unwilingly out Of the service.
! liut there are large number who have
not done any service Tor ycars, and never
will he assigned to duty again. They arc ut
home on sick leave and are anxious 10 bc
retired. Most of them have been
worn ont in service. 4 great many
have been used up ut the army
! posts up IN the dry countries. IL lisa very
strange thing, but II j., however, n iuct,
that We have more rheumatism in dry
climates than in the damp ones II is gen
orally supposed that wet weather and
danpncss arc conducive to rheumatic
troubles, but IL Is not 30. Our books show
| that II N IN dry atmosphere that our men
suffer. II dries them mp Just like mum
mics, stiiIcns their joints aud units them
for duty. The worst post We have is whcrc
only about an inch and quarter of rain
falls In year IL il from the changes Of
climate largely that these men arc now
sick.
"Many Of them have been at home on
sick leave ~ long as nine years, and in
that time have not done an hours duty
These men hold various ranks, and while
they are away the next In rank does their
work and gets no more pay for a. They
arr Of no value 10 the army, and will never
bc. They are living at home and drawing
their full pay. They du not feel like ~
signing and losing all source oi income,
but will be- glad a. br retired on what Is
known w hall puv. With this income
they can live. aud some ui them arr able
Ia do some little work ~ home. But
~ far ~ The army is concerned
they are y1luclcss. Now, to l,c retired "
what they want and what Is only lust a.
them, aud II l. only fair io raise the men
who ac doing the work of their superior
officers 81 the proper rank and the consc.
quunt pay. These men are dcadWoDd aud
should hc relieved ON the same principle
that tree should be- pruncd ui the dead
7 leaves II will BE- positive economy ant
, the service will be- very greatly improved
| have made the suggestion aud will b,
glad Ia soc Congress act upon n, hut they
nW the representatives NJ the people, and
il they dp not take II up / do not care"
(which Of the other recommendations
in your report do you consider OF the next
Importance
"Wcll. have asked fur 5000 more men
for the army. The standing army is sup
posed t0 be- -. 0JO that il Ia say, this b.
the limit AHH matter oi fact there never
b. aud cannot be- quite this full quota in
service. We cannot recruit u new man
until the time OF service Of his predecessor
has expired This takes few DAYS. and
the insult Is that there is always a margin
81 1000 Ut 1900 men, which makes the
actual standing army not more than 1900
men, | have recommended the addition
oi b,pO moro men,
"Whcr would you put the additional
i1rcc?"
81 should mako two regiments ~ $40 ~
900 mon each oi artillery. There b. q long
stretch Ui coast lrDm herr east and two ar.
lillpy regiments would hc well employed
about thr Qualifications. The rest ui the
men | should dirrihutc about the posts ~
How Is the army equipped for lighting
the Indians
"Ch, think there are men enough on
the frontier tD take CJry NJ the Indians.
There b. no iurCriIug what they may do
ont theme ut any time. but ihu troubles
are growing LEES Ia hr feared every day.
The Indians aru IN hld Shape io ever du
much moro fighting. Since thc buil1lp,-
worr killed oil thpy have lost their com.
! misary department. The buiIalocs, you
know. were always the Indians commits.
ury department when they went Ia war.
bat now they are killed un and game D.
: scarce, aud they can. exist long without
supplies 5000.
"lluW are ihU Indians afncl Tor fight,
ing2'
DWELL armed Better armed Than The
soldiers are That wis thp greatest misink,
we ever made when We dlslunod them The
Grsi time. Then thew hli old flint lork
gum NiIIl WV 'illNIH NliN flItN'i'l AiiAN WIZ
NOT worth two cents We took them nll
! away. and inside ul f.g months every In.
dian was armed better than our own men.
: They had the best improved repeating
rifles. And ~ " has been every time We
have disarmcda nyOi them They equipped
. themselves with the latest improved
/ weapons. Why, now they have lhCso new
j repeating Winchester rifles that fire six,
] a..
pete with them, and there IL not fillf
in the army that is 20 deadly NJ thosr
, the Indians have. Ol course Indian war
iarc h the hardest kind Of fighting IN thJ
Z world. Thcy are alwuys well fitted ouI
before they 20 20 hlhting The trader
! np always around, and un Indian Will
give one. two, three. or perhaps five ~ HS
ponies for q good rifle aud ammunition
The only way 10 FIGHT Them Is will
, cavalry The Indians arc cavalry
+ But / do not book for mucl
. morn trouble ON the frontier About all
they con do b. Ia rice suddenly aud kill q
lew settler. and before they can gci
! ur.hrr fIr 'UiuI- arr after them aud run
d them GRgy H'H tur mountains.
"liayr yur .uYkol into the iafiH qucs
ton pr u.hnr m.iUr az legislation that nr,
. likely 60 cumr up before the next session
& ui Congress
~ an 900 politician don't know any
thing about what viii occupy the mex
lurerp.. anil have H.d little attention I,
. 90, political 6eld Wy mny duties keel
me illiy rnmml.
WAsmNDIoN, Dee. o. The superinicnd
, cut ut foreign mails has information tina
, the Republic Of Colombia has quarpntinet
nll vessels departing from the ports O
Chill since October 81 last, on information
that cholera prevails in that country.